On September 13th, Tim Reardon began a series on the fruit of the spirit. He references Galatians 5:22-26 and 1 John 4:7-12, and asks what our memories are surrounding our initial learning about the fruit of the Spirit. We may think only of a list of positive attributes.

And yet, Paul is upset within the letter. He is addressing groups of people who have adopted practices designed to create hierarchies, and to divide — to exert power over one another.

Tim’s words are an entry point from which to think about the fruit of the Spirit, and the garden imagery Paul uses. This is the Spirit who hovered over the waters at creation, who rested upon Jesus, and who ushers in new creation through Christ. The fruit of the Spirit is the fruit of a new creation, breaking forth among the old. And fruit is that which springs forth.

And so, imagine that we are all a garden — nourished in the soil of the Spirit: the garden of new creation. It does not divide, exploit, alienate or abuse. It does not destroy the other plants in the garden, as a thorn or weeds might do. It produces the fruit of life. It springs forth among us, and together we share in it. And God is the Gardener who first loved the garden — the one who planted it, tends it, prunes it — and the soil. The seed perhaps is Jesus rising up within us.

Watch the video below as Tim continues to delve into this passage and its uniqueness.

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Hear audio only:

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